After a lifetime together, not even death could keep Con and Kay O’Driscoll apart.

Kay, heartbroken after the loss of her husband, died just two days later.

A rare double funeral Mass was held in Doon, Co Limerick last Thursday week, after which they were buried in the same grave.

Con, 90, died peacefully on January 2. Martin, one of their six children, said Kay, 91, was devastated and the family knew she was going to die shortly afterwards.

He said: “It was very obvious her heart was broken. Her wish was that they would go together in death and her wishes were granted by God.”

She passed away on January 4 and those two days apart were the only ones in 62 years of marriage.

They were well met – Con was a veterinary surgeon and Kay a pharmacist.

They met in a pharmacy in Leap, Co Cork – where Con was from – in 1952.

Kay was a Madigan from Shanagolden, where her brother Maurice still lives.

Two years later, Con and Kay married in Shanagolden on October 12, 1954.

In the early sixties they moved to Doon where they raised their six children – Pat (recently deceased), Hubert, Noelle, Marian, Esther and Martin.

The couple lived on Main Street in Doon until quite recently.

Martin said his father was a very fit, active man who relished the physical side of veterinary care.

“He always said that pigs were his best patients but he had a great reputation with horses, cattle and all animals alike.

“As a vet, his work day would easily start at 3am in the springtime, and most of the day was spent on calls to farmers, TB testing, or working on his own farm.

“Despite that commitment, he was a daily Mass-goer and his presence in the family home was always felt,” said Martin.

Con’s ability to work away from home for much of the day was enabled by Kay’s commitment to the home.

“Her day typically began at 6am with some house work before she attended early morning Mass.

“As a pharmacist, she would prepare Con’s medicines and also dispense directly to farmers.

"As a mother, she would tend to the six children and see to the laundry, cooking and cleaning for the household.

“Such was the bond between them that when Con shuffled from this mortal coil on January 2, Kay followed shortly on January 4.”

One of the eight priests to concelebrate the funeral Mass was Fr Tony Ryan, who was Doon parish priest for 12 years until 2016.

He said: “It is very unusual. For the couple themselves it was happy - the journey that began the day they met continues on in the eternal life but for their family, of course, it was very sad to lose both parents, and also a brother last November.”